Provisioning of high-availability nodes using rack computing resources

ABSTRACT

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a pod manager. The pod manager receives a data object for composing a target composed-node. The pod manager determines that the data object includes an indication for high-availability. The pod manager accordingly composes a collection of composed-nodes based on the data object. The pod manager further configures the collection of composed-nodes to function as the target composed-node.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates generally to computer systems, and moreparticularly, to a pod manager of a computing pod that can compose acollection of nodes to implement a high-availability node.

Background

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Technological advancements in networking have enabled the rise in use ofpooled and/or configurable computing resources. These pooled and/orconfigurable computing resources may include physical infrastructure forcloud computing networks. The physical infrastructure may include one ormore computing systems having processors, memory, storage, networking,etc. Management entities of these cloud computing networks may allocateportions of pooled and/or configurable computing resources in order toplace or compose a node (machine or server) to implement, execute or runa workload. Various types of applications or application workloads mayutilize this allocated infrastructure in a shared manner via access tothese placed or composed nodes or servers.

A user may request that a high-availability node is built from thepooled computing resources. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanismthat can compose a collection of composed-nodes and further provisionnecessary components to the collection of composed-nodes to implementthe requested high-availability node.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium,and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a pod manager. Thepod manager receives a data object for composing a target composed-node.The pod manager determines that the data object includes an indicationfor high-availability. The pod manager accordingly composes a collectionof composed-nodes based on the data object. The pod manager furtherconfigures the collection of composed-nodes to function as the targetcomposed-node.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative featuresof the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspectsmay be employed, and this description is intended to include all suchaspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a computer system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a logical hierarchy of a computersystem.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating allocation of resources of a computersystem.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rack management structure of acomputer system.

FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a pod manager managing multiplecomposed-nodes.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary data-object template.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary data object.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method (process) for building ahigh-availability node.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementationfor an apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of computer systems will now be presented with referenceto various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will bedescribed in the following detailed description and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits,processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as elements).These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computersoftware, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements areimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” thatincludes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs),central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors,systems on a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardwareconfigured to perform the various functionality described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system mayexecute software. Software shall be construed broadly to meaninstructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code,programs, subprograms, software components, applications, softwareapplications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects,executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whetherreferred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more example embodiments, the functions describedmay be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded asone or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage mediamay be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise arandom-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of theaforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other mediumthat can be used to store computer executable code in the form ofinstructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system 100 including computing racks112-1 to 112-k and a pod manager 178 in communication over a network108. The computing racks 112-1 to 112-k collectively constitute acomputing pod 110, which is managed by the pod manager 178 as describedinfra. In general, a pod is a collection of computing racks within ashared infrastructure domain.

In use, computing applications or other workloads may be distributedover any number of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k using availablecomputing elements of the system 100 (e.g., compute nodes, memory,storage, or networking). The pod manager 178 manages resources of thesystem 100, for example including the current distribution andscheduling of workloads among the computing elements of the computingracks 112-1 to 112-k. The pod manager 178 can translate human inputreceived into a number of machine-readable user-defined optimizationrules. The pod manager 178 can optimize workload of the computing racks112-1 to 112-k (e.g., optimize the placement and/or scheduling ofworkloads among the computing elements of the system 100) using theuser-defined optimization rules well as predefined goals andconstraints.

The system 100 may allow improved scheduling and placement of workloadin a highly heterogeneous (e.g., disaggregated and/or modular)datacenter environment, with multiple internal (e.g., efficiency) and/orexternal (e.g., service delivery objective) constraints. Additionally,the system 100 may enable service providers to offer a wide range ofservice levels and templates to customers, due to the service provider'sability to optimally profit from all computing elements of the system100 while managing operational cost tightly. Additionally, althoughdescribed as being performed by the pod manager 178, in certainconfigurations some or all of those functions may be performed by otherelements of the system 100, such as one or more computing racks 112-1 to112-k.

Each of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k may be embodied as a modularcomputing device that, alone or in combination with other computingracks 112-1 to 112-k, is capable of performing the functions describedherein. For example, the computing rack 112-1 may be embodied as achassis for rack-mounting modular computing units such as computedrawer/trays, storage drawer/trays, network drawer/trays, and/ortraditional rack-mounted components such as servers or switches.

In this example, each of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k may includea RMM 120 (rack management module) and one or more of an interconnect122 coupled to a pooled compute enclosure 124, a pooled memory enclosure130, a pooled storage enclosure 136, and a pooled network enclosure 142.The RMM 120 is responsible for managing the rack, which may includeassigning IDs for pooled system management engines (PSMEs) and managingthe rack power and cooling. Of course, each of the computing racks 112-1to 112-k may include other or additional components, such as thosecommonly found in a server device (e.g., power distribution systems,cooling systems, or various input/output devices), in other embodiments.

In certain configurations, each of the pooled compute enclosure 124, thepooled memory enclosure 130, the pooled storage enclosure 136, and thepooled network enclosure 142 may be embodied as a tray, expansion board,or any other form factor, and may be further referred to as a “drawer.”In such configurations, each enclosure/drawer may include any number offunction modules or computing components, which may be allocated to anapplication or workload. As each of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-kincludes drawers, individual components may be replaced or upgraded andmay be “hot swappable.” For example, in certain configurations, thepooled compute enclosure 124 may be embodied as a CPU tray including oneor more compute modules 126. Each compute module 126 may include a bladehaving multiple processors and/or processing/controlling circuits. Insuch configurations, additional processing power may be added to thecomputing rack 112-1 by swapping out the pooled compute enclosure 124with another pooled compute enclosure 124 including newer and/or morepowerful processors.

The pooled compute enclosure 124 may be embodied as any modularcomputing unit such as a compute tray, expansion board, chassis, orother modular unit. As described supra, the pooled compute enclosure 124may include one or more compute modules 126. Each compute module 126 mayinclude a processor blade capable of performing the functions describedherein. Each processor blade may include a single or multi-coreprocessor(s), digital signal processor, microcontroller, or otherprocessor or processing/controlling circuit. The compute modules 126 maybe heterogeneous; for example, some of the compute modules 126 may beembodied as high-performance server processors and others of the computemodules 126 may be embodied as low-powered processors suitable forhigher density deployment.

Further, in certain configurations, the pooled compute enclosure 124 mayinclude a compute PSME 128. The compute PSME 128 may be embodied as anyperformance counter, performance monitoring unit, or other hardwaremonitor capable of generating, measuring, or otherwise capturingperformance metrics of the compute modules 126 and/or other componentsof the pooled compute enclosure 124.

The pooled memory enclosure 130 may be embodied as any modular memoryunit such as a memory tray, expansion board, chassis, or other modularunit. The pooled memory enclosure 130 includes memory modules 132. Eachof the memory modules 132 may have a memory blade containing one or morememories capable of being partitioned, allocated, or otherwise assignedfor use by one or more of the compute modules 126 of the pooled computeenclosure 124. For example, the memory blade may contain a pooled memorycontroller coupled to volatile or non-volatile memory, such as a largenumber of conventional RAM DIMMs. In operation, the pooled memoryenclosure 130 may store various data and software used during operationof the computing rack 112-1 such as operating systems, virtual machinemonitors, and user workloads.

Further, in certain configurations, the pooled memory enclosure 130 mayinclude a memory PSME 134. The memory PSME 134 may be embodied as anyperformance counter, performance monitoring unit, or other hardwaremonitor capable of generating, measuring, or otherwise capturingperformance metrics of the memory modules 132 and/or other components ofthe pooled memory enclosure 130.

In certain configurations, the computing rack 112-1 may not have aseparate pooled memory enclosure 130. Rather, the pooled memoryenclosure 130 may be incorporated into the pooled compute enclosure 124.As such, the computing rack 112-1 includes a combined pooled computeenclosure 124′ that contains both processors and memories. Inparticular, in one configuration, a compute module 126 of the combinedpooled compute enclosure 124′ may include both processors and memoriesthat function together. Accordingly, the compute PSME 128 manages boththe processor resources and the memory resources. In anotherconfiguration, the combined pooled compute enclosure 124′ may includeone or more compute modules 126 as well as one or more memory modules132.

Similarly, the pooled storage enclosure 136 may be embodied as anymodular storage unit such as a storage tray, expansion board, chassis,or other modular unit. The pooled storage enclosure 136 includes storagemodules 138. Each of the storage modules 138 may have a storage bladecontaining any type of data storage capable of being partitioned,allocated, or otherwise assigned for use by one or more of the computemodules 126 of the combined pooled compute enclosure 124′. For example,the storage blade may contain one or more memory devices and circuits,memory cards, hard disk drives, solid-state drives, or other datastorage devices. Further, the storage modules 138 may be configured tostore one or more operating systems to be initialized and/or executed bythe computing rack 112-1.

Further, in certain configurations, the pooled storage enclosure 136 mayinclude a storage PSME 140. The storage PSME 140 may be embodied as anyperformance counter, performance monitoring unit, or other hardwaremonitor capable of generating, measuring, or otherwise capturingperformance metrics of the storage modules 138 and/or other componentsof the pooled storage enclosure 136.

Similarly, the pooled network enclosure 142 may be embodied as anymodular network unit such as a network tray, expansion board, chassis,or other modular unit. The pooled network enclosure 142 includes networkmodules 144. Each of the network modules 144 may have a blade containingany communication circuit, device, or collection thereof, capable ofbeing partitioned, allocated, or otherwise assigned for use by one ormore of the compute modules 126 of the combined pooled compute enclosure124′. For example, the network blade may contain any number of networkinterface ports, cards, or switches. In certain configurations, thenetwork modules 144 may be capable of operating in a software-definednetwork (SDN). The network modules 144 may be configured to use any oneor more communication technology (e.g., wired or wirelesscommunications) and associated protocols (e.g., Ethernet, Bluetooth®,Wi-Fi®, WiMAX, etc.) to effect such communication.

Further, in certain configurations, the pooled network enclosure 142 mayinclude a network PSME 146. The network PSME 146 may be embodied as anyperformance counter, performance monitoring unit, or other hardwaremonitor capable of generating, measuring, or otherwise capturingperformance metrics of the network modules 144 and/or other componentsof the pooled network enclosure 142.

In certain configurations, the combined pooled compute enclosure 124′,the pooled storage enclosure 136, and the pooled network enclosure 142are coupled to each other and to other computing racks 112-1 to 112-kthrough the interconnect 122. The interconnect 122 may be embodied as,or otherwise include, memory controller hubs, input/output control hubs,firmware devices, communication links (i.e., point-to-point links, buslinks, wires, cables, light guides, printed circuit board traces, etc.)and/or other components and subsystems to facilitate data transferbetween the computing elements of the computing rack 112-1. For example,in certain configurations, the interconnect 122 may be embodied as orinclude a silicon photonics switch fabric and a number of opticalinterconnects. Additionally or alternatively, in certain configurations,the interconnect 122 may be embodied as or include a top-of-rack switch.

The RMM 120 may be implemented by any computing node, micro-controller,or other computing device capable of performing workload management andorchestration functions for the computing rack 112-1 and otherwiseperforming the functions described herein. For example, the RMM 120 maybe embodied as one or more computer servers, embedded computing devices,managed network devices, managed switches, or other computation devices.In certain configurations, the RMM 120 may be incorporated or otherwisecombined with the interconnect 122, for example in a top-of-rack switch.

As described supra, in certain configurations, the system 100 mayinclude a pod manager 178. A pod manager 178 is configured to provide aninterface for a user to orchestrate, administer, or otherwise manage thesystem 100. The pod manager 178 may be embodied as any type ofcomputation or computer device capable of performing the functionsdescribed herein, including, without limitation, a computer, amultiprocessor system, a server, a rack-mounted server, a blade server,a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a wearablecomputing device, a network appliance, a web appliance, a distributedcomputing system, a processor-based system, and/or a consumer electronicdevice. In certain configurations, the pod manager 178 may be embodiedas a distributed system, for example with some or all computationalfunctions performed by the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k and with userinterface functions performed by the pod manager 178. Accordingly,although the pod manager 178 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as embodied as asingle server computing device, it should be appreciated that the podmanager 178 may be embodied as multiple devices cooperating together tofacilitate the functionality described infra. As shown in FIG. 1, thepod manager 178 illustratively includes a processor 180, an input/outputsubsystem 182, a memory 184, a data storage device 186, andcommunication circuitry 188. Of course, the pod manager 178 may includeother or additional components, such as those commonly found in aworkstation (e.g., various input/output devices), in other embodiments.Additionally, in certain configurations, one or more of the illustrativecomponents may be incorporated in, or otherwise form a portion of,another component. For example, the memory 184, or portions thereof, maybe incorporated in the processor 180 in certain configurations.

The processor 180 may be embodied as any type of processor capable ofperforming the functions described herein. The processor 180 may beembodied as a single or multi-core processor(s), digital signalprocessor, micro-controller, or other processor orprocessing/controlling circuit. Similarly, the memory 184 may beembodied as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data storagecapable of performing the functions described herein. In operation, thememory 184 may store various data and software used during operation ofthe pod manager 178 such as operating systems, applications, programs,libraries, and drivers. The memory 184 is communicatively coupled to theprocessor 180 via the I/O subsystem 182, which may be embodied ascircuitry and/or components to facilitate input/output operations withthe processor 180, the memory 184, and other components of the podmanager 178. For example, the I/O subsystem 182 may be embodied as, orotherwise include, memory controller hubs, input/output control hubs,integrated sensor hubs, firmware devices, communication links (i.e.,point-to-point links, bus links, wires, cables, light guides, printedcircuit board traces, etc.) and/or other components and subsystems tofacilitate the input/output operations. In certain configurations, theI/O subsystem 182 may form a portion of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and beincorporated, along with the processor 180, the memory 184, and othercomponents of the pod manager 178, on a single integrated circuit chip.

The data storage device 186 may be embodied as any type of device ordevices configured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as,for example, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard diskdrives, solid-state drives, or other data storage devices. Thecommunication circuitry 188 of the pod manager 178 may be embodied asany communication circuit, device, or collection thereof, capable ofenabling communications between the pod manager 178, the computing racks112-1 to 112-k, and/or other remote devices over the network 108. Thecommunication circuitry 188 may be configured to use any one or morecommunication technology (e.g., wired or wireless communications) andassociated protocols (e.g., Ethernet, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, WiMAX, etc.)to effect such communication.

The pod manager 178 further includes a display 190. The display 190 ofthe pod manager 178 may be embodied as any type of display capable ofdisplaying digital information such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), alight emitting diode (LED), a plasma display, a cathode ray tube (CRT),or other type of display device. As further described below, the display190 may present an interactive graphical user interface for managementof the system 100.

As described infra, the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k and the podmanager 178 may be configured to transmit and receive data with eachother and/or other devices of the system 100 over the network 108. Thenetwork 108 may be embodied as any number of various wired and/orwireless networks. For example, the network 108 may be embodied as, orotherwise include, a wired or wireless local area network (LAN), a wiredor wireless wide area network (WAN), a cellular network, and/or apublicly-accessible, global network such as the Internet. As such, thenetwork 108 may include any number of additional devices, such asadditional computers, routers, and switches, to facilitatecommunications among the devices of the system 100.

Although each of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k has been illustratedas including a single combined pooled compute enclosure 124′, a singlepooled storage enclosure 136, and a single pooled network enclosure 142,it should be understood that each of the computing racks 112-1 to 112-kmay include any number and/or combination of those modular enclosures.

FIG. 2 is a diagram 200 illustrating a logical hierarchy of the system100. As described supra, the pod manager 178 manages the computing pod110. An orchestration module 212 may send a request to the pod manager178 for a composed-node. Accordingly, the pod manager 178 may allocateresources of the computing pod 110 to build the requested composed-node.A composed-node may include resources from compute, memory, network, andstorage modules.

Further, as shown, the computing pod 110 includes at least one computingrack 220. Each computing rack 220, which may be any one of the computingracks 112-1 to 112-k, includes a RMM 222 (e.g., the RMM 120). Thecomputing rack 220 also includes at least one computing drawer 230, eachof which may be any one of the combined pooled compute enclosure 124′,the pooled storage enclosure 136, and the pooled network enclosure 142.In certain configurations, each computing drawer 230 may include a PSME232, which may be any corresponding one of the compute PSME 128, thememory PSME 134, the storage PSME 140, and the network PSME 146.

The computing drawer 230 also includes at least one module 240, whichmay be any corresponding one of the compute module 126, the memorymodule 132, the storage module 138, and the network module 144. Eachmodule 240 includes a MMC 242 (module management controller) thatservices the module 240 and manages the blades in the module 240.

Each module 240 also includes at least one computing blade 250. Eachcomputing blade 250 includes a BMC 252 (baseboard managementcontroller), a ME 254 (management engine), and a BIOS 256 (BasicInput/Output System). The PSME 232 is in communication with the MMC 242and the BMC 252. The BMC 252 is in communication with the BIOS 256 andthe ME 254.

In particular, the pod manager 178 is responsible for discovery ofresources in the computing pod 110, configuring the resources, power andreset control, power management, fault management, monitoring theresources usage. The pod manager 178 interacts with the RMM 120 and thePSME 232 to create representation of the computing pod 110. The podmanager 178 allows composing a physical node to match the logical noderequirements specified by the solution stack. Such composition is ableto specify a system at a sub-composed node granularity.

The pod manager 178 may be connected to the RMM 222 and the PSME 232through the network 108 (e.g., a private network). A management relatedactivity such as reconfiguration may be performed after establishing asecure communication channel between the pod manager 178 and the PSME232 and between the pod manager 178 and the RMM 222.

The RMM 222 may be responsible for handling infrastructure functions ofthe computing rack 220 such as power, cooling, and assigning PSME IDs.The RMM 222 may also support power monitoring at rack level. Thisfeature helps the pod manager 178 take actions to keep the rack withinits power budget.

As described supra, the computing rack 220 is made-up of drawers such asthe computing drawer 230. The computing rack 220 provides a mechanism tomanage rack level end point components down to the drawer level. Inparticular, the PSME 232 provides management interface to manage themodules/blades (e.g., the module 240/the computing blade 250) at adrawer level. In certain configurations, the PSME 232 may servicemultiple drawers, as long as the drawer is uniquely addressable andprovides the necessary instrumentation. For example, if each drawer hasa microcontroller to provide the necessary instrumentation for alldrawer requirements (such as module presence detection) and isinterfaced to the RMM 222, then the PSME 232 could physically run in theRMM 222 and represent each drawer instance.

In certain configurations, the PSME 232 may be responsible for draweridentification management and for communicating with the BMC 252 and theMMC 242 perform node-level management. If the RMM 222 is not present inthe computing rack 220, the PSME 232 in the computing rack 220 wouldprovide the RMM functionality. The PSME 232 may also provide individualnode reset support including power on and power off of the drawer andmodules (e.g., the module 240 and the computing blade 250) that aremanaged by the PSME 232.

FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating allocation of resources of thesystem 100. In certain configurations, as described supra, machines (orservers) can be logically composed from pools of disaggregated physicalelements of the system 100 to implement or execute incoming workloadrequests. These composed-nodes may be deployed in large data centers.The composed-nodes may also be part of software defined infrastructure(SDI). SDI-enabled data centers may include dynamically composed-nodesto implement or execute workloads.

As described supra, the system 100 may include the computing racks 112-1to 112-k, where k is a positive integer. Each rack may include variousconfigurable computing resources. These configurable computing resourcesmay include various types of disaggregated physical elements. Types ofdisaggregated physical elements may include, but are not limited to, CPUtypes (e.g., the compute modules 126), memory types (e.g., the memorymodules 132), storage types (e.g., the storage modules 138), network I/Otypes (e.g., the network modules 144), power types (e.g., power bricks),cooling types (e.g., fans or coolant) or other types of resources (e.g.,network switch types). These configurable computing resources may bemade available (e.g., to a resource manager or controller) in a resourcepool 320.

In certain configurations, various configurable computing resources ofthe system 100 may be made available in the resource pool 320 forallocation to build a composed-node. A composed-node, for example, maybe composed to implement or execute a workload. At least a portion(e.g., a configuration) of available configurable computing resources inthe resource pool may be allocated to support placements 330. As shownin FIG. 3, placements 330 include composed-nodes 332-1 to 332-m, where“m” is any positive integer.

As described infra, certain logic and/or features of the system 100 mayalso be capable of monitoring operating attributes for each configurablecomputing resource allocated to compose or place a composed-node whilethe composed-node implements, runs or executes a workload.

According to some examples, each of the composed-nodes 332-1 to 332-mmay be used to run one or more virtual machines (VMs). For theseexamples, each of the one or VMs may be allocated a portion of acomposed-node (i.e., allocated configurable computing resources). Inother examples, a composed-node may be allocated directly to a given VM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rack management structure 400 of thesystem 100. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 4, the rack managementstructure 400 includes various managers and application programinginterfaces (APIs). For example, a cloud service 410 may interfacethrough a service API 420 (e.g., orchestration interface) as a commonservice application interface (API) to communicate with the pod manager178. The pod manager 178 manages the computing racks 112-1 to 112-kincluding various types of disaggregated physical elements (e.g., thecomputing drawer 230).

In certain configurations, the pod manager 178 may include a resourcemanager 401 that includes logic and/or features capable of allocatingthese disaggregated physical elements (e.g., the compute modules 126,the memory modules 132, the storage modules 138, the network modules144) responsive to a request from a cloud service 410 to allocateconfigurable computing resources to a composed-node to implement orexecute a workload that may be associated with the cloud service 410.The workload, for example, may be an application workload such as, butnot limited to, video processing, encryption/decryption, a web server,content delivery or a database. The resource manager 401 may maintain aresource catalog to track what configurable computing resources havebeen allocated and also what configurable computing resources may beavailable to allocation responsive to subsequent requests from the cloudservice 410.

In certain configurations, the pod manager 178 may utilize amanageability FW API 440 (firmware), which is a Representational StateTransfer (REST)-based API, to access to the configurable computingresources at the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k. This access may includeaccess to disaggregated physical elements maintained at racks as well asmetadata for technologies deployed in these racks that may includegathered operating attributes for these disaggregated physical elements.In particular, the manageability FW API 440 provides access to the RMM120 and the PSME 232 (e.g., the compute PSME 128, the memory PSME 134,the storage PSME 140, and the network PSME 146) of each computing drawer230 in the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k.

REST-based or RESTful Web services are one way of providinginteroperability between computer systems on the Internet.REST-compliant Web services allow requesting systems to access andmanipulate textual representations of Web resources using a uniform andpredefined set of stateless operations. In a RESTful Web service,requests made to a resource's URI will elicit a response that may be inXML, HTML, JSON or some other defined format. The response may confirmthat some alteration has been made to the stored resource, and it mayprovide hypertext links to other related resources or collections ofresources. Using HTTP, as is most common, the kind of operationsavailable include those predefined by the HTTP verbs GET, POST, PUT,DELETE and so on. By making use of a stateless protocol and standardoperations, REST systems aim for fast performance, reliability, and theability to grow, by re-using components that can be managed and updatedwithout affecting the system as a whole, even while it is running.

In certain configurations, the RMM 120 may also provide access to thephysical and logical asset landscapes or mapping in order to expediteidentification of available assets and allocate configurable computingresources responsive to requests to compose or place a composed-node toimplement or execute a workload.

In certain configurations, the RMM 120 may provide a rack level userinterface in order to fulfill several basic functions, such asdiscovery, reservation, polling, monitoring, scheduling and usage. Also,the RMM 120 may be utilized for assembly of higher order computingresources in a multi-rack architecture (e.g., to execute a workload).

In certain configurations, the RMM 120 may report assets under itsmanagement to the pod manager 178 that includes the resource manager401. For these examples, resource manager 401 may include logic and/orfeatures capable of assisting the pod manager 178 in aggregating anoverall physical asset landscape structure from all racks included inthe pod of racks managed by the pod manager 178 into a single multi-rackasset. According to some examples, the RMM 120 may also receive and/orrespond to requests from the pod manager 178 via the manageability FWAPI 440 (i.e., a REST API).

According to some examples, the pod manager 178 may receive a request toallocate a portion of the configurable computing resources maintained inthe computing racks 112-1 to 112-k. For these examples, the pod manager178 may receive the request through the service API 420 in astandardized protocol format such as the Open Virtualization Format(OVF). OVF may include hints (e.g., metadata) of a type of workload. Thepod manager 178 may be capable of determining what hardwareconfiguration may be needed to place or compose a composed-node toimplement or execute the workload. The pod manager 178 may then forwardthe request and indicate the hardware configuration possibly needed tothe resource manager 401. For example, a configuration of configurablecomputing resources including various types of disaggregate physicalelements such as CPUs, memory, storage and NW I/O needed to implement,run, or execute the workload. The pod manager 178 may discover andcommunicate with the RMM 222 of each computing rack 220 and the PSME 232of each computing drawer 230.

The BMC 252 may support Intelligent Platform Management Interfacestandard (IPMI). IPMI is an industry standard and is described in, e.g.,“IPMI: Intelligent Platform Management Interface Specification, SecondGeneration, v.2.0, Feb. 12, 2004,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. IPMI defines a protocol, requirements andguidelines for implementing a management solution for server-classcomputer systems. The features provided by the IPMI standard includepower management, system event logging, environmental health monitoringusing various sensors, watchdog timers, field replaceable unitinformation, in-band and out of band access to the managementcontroller, simple network management protocol (SNMP) traps, etc. TheBMC 252 may be in communication with the computing blade 250 and maymanage the computing blade 250.

Further, the PSME 232 may include REST services. The pod manager 178 mayaccess the REST services through the manageability FW API 440. The RESTservices provide the REST-based interface that allows full management ofthe PSME 232, including asset discovery and configuration. For example,the REST services may be a REDFISH® server. REDFISH® is an open industrystandard specification and schema that specifies a RESTful interface andutilizes JSON and OData for the management of scale-out computingservers and for accessing data defined in model format to performout-of-band systems management. The REST services may support some orall of the requirements of “Redfish Scalable Platforms Management APISpecification, Version: 1.0.0, Document Identifier: DSP0266, Date: 2015Aug. 4,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

When the computing drawer 230 is a compute drawer, the PSME 232 mayprovide to the pod manager 178 information of and functions to operateon a processor collection resource, which provides collection of allprocessors available in a blade.

When the computing drawer 230 is a memory drawer or a compute drawerincluding a memory), the PSME 232 may provide to the pod manager 178information of and functions to operate on a memory collection resource,which provides collection of all memory modules installed in a computersystem. The PSME 232 may also provide information of and functions tooperate on a memory chunks collection resource, which providescollection of all memory chunks in a computer system. The PSME 232 mayfurther provide to the pod manager 178 information of and functions tooperate on a storage adapters collection resource, which providescollection of all storage adapters available in a blade. The PSME 232may also provide to the pod manager 178 information of and functions tooperate on a storage adapter resource, which provides detailedinformation about a single storage adapter identified by adapter ID. ThePSME 232 may provide to the pod manager 178 information of and functionsto operate on a storage device collection resource, which providescollection of all storage devices available in a storage adapter. ThePSME 232 may also provide to the pod manager 178 information of andfunctions to operate on a device resource, which provides detailedinformation about a single storage device identified by device ID.

When the computing drawer 230 is a networking drawer, the PSME 232 mayprovide to the pod manager 178 information of and functions to operateon a Blade Network Interface resource, which provides detailedinformation about a network interface identified by NIC ID.

In addition, the PSME 232 may provide to the pod manager 178 informationof and functions to operate on a manager collection resource, whichprovides collection of all managers available in the computing drawer230. The PSME 232 may provide to the pod manager 178 information of andfunctions to operate on chassis collection resource, a chassis resource.a computer systems collection, and a computer system resource,

The PSME 232 may provide to the pod manager 178 information of andfunctions to operate on one or more of the following: a manager resourcethat provides detailed information about a manager identified by managerID; a switch collection resource that provides collection of allswitches available in a fabric module; a switch resource that providesdetailed information about a switch identified by switch ID; a switchport collection resource that provides collection of all switch portavailable in a switch; a switch port resource that provides detailedinformation about a switch port identified by port ID; a switch ACLcollection resource that provides collection of all Access Control List(ACL) defined on switch; a switch ACL resource that provides detailedinformation about a switch Access Control List defined on switch; aswitch ACL rule collection resource that provides collection of allrules for Access Control List (ACL) defined on switch; a switch ACL ruleresource that provides detailed information about a switch ACL ruledefined identified by rule ID; a switch port static MAC collectionresource that provides collection of all static MAC forwarding tableentries; a switch port static MAC resource that provides detailedinformation about a static MAC address forward table entry; a networkprotocol resource that provides detailed information about all networkservices supported by a manager identified by manager ID; a Ethernetinterface collection resource that provides collection of all Ethernetinterfaces supported by a manager identified by manager ID or includedin a blade identified by blade ID; a Ethernet interface resource thatprovides detailed information about a Ethernet interface identified byNIC ID; a VLAN Network Interface collection resource that providescollection of all VLAN network interfaces existing on a switch portidentified by port ID or network interface identified by NIC ID; a VLANNetwork Interface resource that provides detailed information about aVLAN network interface identified by VLAN ID; an event service resourceresponsible for sending events to subscribers; an event subscriptioncollection, which is a collection of Event Destination resources; anevent subscription contains information about type of events usersubscribed for and should be sent; and a definition of event array thatis POST-ed by Event Service to active subscribers, event arrayrepresenting the properties for the events themselves and notsubscriptions or any other resource, each event in this array having aset of properties that describe the event.

FIG. 5 is diagram 500 illustrating a pod manager managing multiplecomposed-nodes. The pod manager 178 includes, among other components, aresource manager 401, a node-composing component 504, a templatecomponent 506, a high-availability configuration component 507, and aPXE server 509 (Preboot Execution Environment server).

The node-composing component 504 may provide an interface (e.g., a userinterface, an application program interface (API), etc.) through which auser or a computing device (i.e., a requester) can request thenode-composing component 504 to compose a target composed-node andinform the node-composing component 504 requirements for the targetcomposed-node. The requirements may indicate the type of composed-nodeneeded (e.g., a compute composed-node, a storage composed-node, anetwork composed-node, etc.), the computing powers required, the memorycapacity, the storage capacity, the network throughput, etc.

Based on the requirements, the node-composing component 504 may select atarget data-object template from data-object templates available at thetemplate component 506 for constructing a node that satisfies therequirements. The data-object templates at the template component 506each define the parameters for composing a node. For example, adata-object template may specify the model, number, capacity/speed ofthe processors, memories, disk drives, and network interfaces.

After selecting the target data-object template, the node-composingcomponent 504 generates a data object based on the target data-objecttemplate. The data object is specific to the resource manager 401 forcreating a particular composed-node satisfying the requirements of therequester. Subsequently, the node-composing component 504 sends thegenerated data object to the resource manager 401. The resource manager401 then, according to the data object, communicates with the computingracks 112-1 to 112-k to allocate resources from the resource pool 320and to build the target composed-node.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary data-object template 600 in JavaScript ObjectNotation (JSON) format. The data-object template 600 may be one of thedata-object templates provided by the template component 506. Thedata-object template 600 includes an OData information section 610, atemplate information section 620, and a payload section 630. OData (OpenData Protocol) is an Organization for the Advancement of StructuredInformation Standards (OASIS) standard that defines a set of bestpractices for building and consuming RESTful APIs. “OData Version 4.0. 2Jun. 2016” specification is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety

The OData information section 610 includes a context (i.e.,“Aodata.context”) property that tells a generic client how to find theservice metadata describing the types exposed by the service anddescribes the source of the payload. The OData information section 610further includes a resource identifier (i.e., @odata.id) that identifiesthe resource. The OData information section 610 also includes a type(i.e., @odata.type) property that specifies the type of the resource asdefined within, or referenced by, the metadata document. The templateinformation section 620 indicates an ID, a name, a description, and atype of the data-object template 600. The name is a user defined name ofthe template. The description is a user defined description of thetemplate. The type may be “node,” “reset,” “boot,” “config,” etc. Thepayload section 630 includes a payload of a data object (e.g., in JSONformat).

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary data object 700 in JSON format. Thenode-composing component 504 may obtain the data-object template 600from the template component 506 and, accordingly, may construct the dataobject 700. The node-composing component 504 may send the data object700 to the resource manager 401, requesting the resource manager 401 toaccordingly build a requested composed-node. The requirements describedin the data object 700 may be treated by the resource manager 401 as aminimal required value, so the resulting composed-node may have betterparameters than requested. In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, therequested name for the composed-node is “Nodel.” The requesteddescription of the composed-node is “Node for MegaRAC.” Regarding therequested processors, the model is “Multi-Core Intel® Xeon® processor7xxx Series.” The requested number of cores of a processor is 8. Therequested achievable speed of a processor is 3700 MHz. The requestedbrand is “E5” Regarding the requested memory, the requested capacity is16384 MiB. The requested data width bits are 64. The requested memorydevice type is DDR4. Regarding the requested local drives, the requestedcapacity is 300 GiB.

Referring back to FIG. 5, as described supra, the node-composingcomponent 504 receives the requirements for a target composed-node(e.g., through the interface provided by the node-composing component504) from a requester such as a user or another computing device. Inaddition to what was described supra, the requirements may also includean indication of an application or functionality (e.g., a databaseserver) of the target composed-node. Based on this indication, thenode-composing component 504 may select a corresponding data-objecttemplate and generate a corresponding data object that specifies one ormore service components to be installed on the target composed-node forimplementing the requested application or functionality.

In this example, the resource manager 401, based on the data objectreceived from the node-composing component 504, uses the resource of thecomputing racks 112-1 to 112-k to build a composed-node 511(1), whichmay be one of the composed-nodes 332-1 to 332-m. The resource manager401 may further load a boot agent on the composed-node 511(1). The bootagent is configured to download an OS 540(1) and a service component522(1) from the PXE server 509 and to install the OS 540(1) and theservice component 522(1) on the composed-node 511(1). More specifically,the service component 522(1) is installed on the OS 540(1) to implementthe application or functionality of the target composed-node. In thisexample, the OS 540(1) may be a LINUX® OS and the service component522(1) may be a MYSQL® database.

In addition, the requirements from the requester and received at thenode-composing component 504 may also include an indication that thetarget composed-node is a high-availability node. The requirements mayinclude an indication of a degree of high-availability requested as wellas an indication for a high-availability configuration to be used. Inparticular, the high-availability configuration may be an active-activeconfiguration or an active-passive configuration.

To satisfy these additional high-availability requirements, whenselecting a data-object template, the node-composing component 504 maychoose a data-object template that specifies the parameters for creatinga collection of composed-nodes to implement the requestedhigh-availability node. Further, based on the degree (e.g., 1 to 10, 10being the highest degree) of the requested high-availability, thenode-composing component 504 may determine the number of composed-nodesin the collection.

In this example, the node-composing component 504 generates a dataobject for building a high-availability node based on the selecteddata-object template and sends the generated data object to the resourcemanager 401. Accordingly, the resource manager 401 allocates resourcesof the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k to build composed-nodes511(1)-511(n), n being an integer greater than 1. As described supra,the number of composed-nodes (i.e., n) may be determined by thenode-composing component 504 based on the requested degree ofhigh-availability. When the degree is high (e.g., 10 out of 10), thenode-composing component 504 may determine that n is 10, 20, or 50, etc.When the degree is low (e.g., 1 out of 10), the node-composing component504 may determine that n is 2, or 4, etc.

In addition, based on the degree of the requested high-availability(e.g., when the degree is greater than 8 out of 10), the node-composingcomponent 504 may also determine to allocate resources from differentracks from the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k to build different nodesof the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n). From example, the node-composingcomponent 504 may allocate resources from respective one of selected nracks from the computing racks 112-1 to 112-k to build the respectiveone of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n).

The resource manager 401 may allocate the same hardware elements to eachnode of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n). That is, the hardware platform524 of each node contains the same hardware elements. In particular,each set of the CPUs 552(1)-552(n) is the same (e.g., same brand, model,speed, capacity, etc.). Each set of the memories 554(1)-554(n) is thesame (e.g., same brand, model, capacity, etc.). Each set of the storages556(1)-556(n) is the same (e.g., same brand, model, capacity, etc.).Each set of the network elements 558(1)-558(n) is the same (e.g., samebrand, model, capacity, etc.).

The resource manager 401 may receive a data object that specifies thatOSes 540(1)-540(n), service components 522(1)-522(n), andhigh-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) are to be installedon the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n), respectively. Accordingly, thehigh-availability configuration component 507 of the pod manager 178further configures the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) to install the OSes540(1)-540(n), service components 522(1)-522(n), and high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(n). In particular, the high-availabilityconfiguration component 507 may install a boot agent on each of thecomposed-nodes 511(1)-511(n). The boot agent on each one of thecomposed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) is configured by the high-availabilityconfiguration component 507 to download the same OS, the same servicecomponent, the same high-availability operation component from the PXEserver 509 to each composed-node and to install them. As such, the OSes540(1)-540(n), the service components 522(1)-522(n), and thehigh-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) are installed andinitiated on the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n), respectively. Morespecifically, each of the OSes 540(1)-540(n) is the same or identical(e.g., having the exact same programs, data, and configuration, etc.),and each of the service components 522(1)-522(n) is the same oridentical (e.g., having the exact same programs, data, andconfiguration, etc.). In this example, each of the OSes 540(1)-540(n)may be the same brand, version of LINUX® with the identical data,configurations, etc., and each of the service components 522(1)-522(n)may be the same version of MYSQL® with identical data, configurations,etc.

Further, the high-availability configuration component 507 configuresthe high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) to operate thecomposed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) to function as a high-availability node. Asdescribed supra, a requester may request that a high-availability nodeoperates in an active-active configuration or an active-passiveconfiguration. When the requester requests an active-activeconfiguration, the high-availability configuration component 507 mayinstruct the high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) tomake all nodes of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) active and running.Further, the high-availability configuration component 507 configures atleast one of the high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) toprovide a load balancing function. In this example, thehigh-availability operation component 526(1) is selected to function asthe load balancer. Accordingly, the high-availability operationcomponent 526(1) is configured to receive all tasks or requests directedto the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n). From a user's perspective, the userperceives the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) as a single high-availabilitynode and has no knowledge of any one of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n)individually. Then, based on an algorithm (e.g., Round Robin) forbalancing the load, the high-availability operation component 526(1)selects a node of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) and forwards the taskor request to the selected composed-node for handling. In this example,the high-availability operation component 526(1) receives a request toupdate a data entry in the databases of the service components522(1)-522(n). Based the load balancing algorithm, the high-availabilityoperation component 526(1) selects the service component 522(j) tohandle the task and forwards the request to the service component522(j). Accordingly, the service component 522(j) updates the data entryin its copy of the database.

Further, the high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n) areconfigured to maintain the redundancy of the service components522(1)-522(n) and the OSes 540(1)-540(n). That is, each of the servicecomponents 522(1)-522(n) is redundant to each other; each of the OSes540(1)-540(n) is redundant to each other. Therefore, any changes made toa particular one of the service components 522(1)-522(n) or a particularone of OSes 540(1)-540(n) will be made, by the high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(n), to all the other ones of the servicecomponents 522(1)-522(n) or the OSes 540(1)-540(n). In this example,once the data entry is updated in the database of the service component522(j), the high-availability operation component 526(j) informs thedatabase changes made to all the other ones of the high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(n). Each of the other ones of thehigh-availability operation components 526(1)-526(n), accordingly, makesthe same changes to the respective database on the same composed-node asthat high-availability operation component.

When the requester requests an active-passive configuration, thehigh-availability configuration component 507 configures some nodes ofthe composed-nodes 511(1)-511(n) to be running/active and the rest to bestandby/passive. In this example, the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(j) areconfigured to operate initially as active nodes, while thecomposed-nodes 511(j+1)-511(n) are configured to operate initially aspassive nodes. When a composed-node is in the passive mode, at least oneof the operative components in the active mode is disabled or notoperative. In certain configurations, a passive composed-node may be ina sleep mode or energy-save mode. As described infra, the passive (orfailover) composed-node serves as a backup that is ready to take over assoon as an active (primary) composed-node gets disconnected or is unableto serve. In certain configurations, the high-availability operationcomponents may operate the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(j) in a loadbalancing manner as described supra.

Further, similar to what was described supra, the high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(n) are configured to maintain theredundancy of the service components 522(1)-522(n) and the OSes540(1)-540(n). In particular, each of the passive composed-nodes areupdated to host identical data and programs as the activecomposed-nodes.

The high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(j) monitor theoperation conditions of the composed-nodes 511(1)-511(j), respectively.Each of the high-availability operation components 526(1)-526(j) on anactive composed-node may send alert signals to the network when anycomponent of that active composed-node fails or is non-operative.Further, each of the high-availability operation components526(1)-526(j) of an active composed-node may periodically send a healthsignal to the network when that active composed-node is operatingnormally as expected. The high-availability operation components526(j+1)-526(n) monitors the activities of the high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(j). When the high-availability operationcomponents 526(j+1)-526(n) detects the presence of an alert signal orthe absence of a health signal from any one of the high-availabilityoperation components 526(1)-526(j), the high-availability operationcomponents 526(j+1)-526(n) convert a passive composed-node to an activecomposed-node and, then, use the newly converted active composed-node toreplace the failed active composed-node.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 of a method (process) for building ahigh-availability node. The method may be performed by a pod manager(e.g., the pod manager 178 and the apparatus 178′). In certainconfigurations, at operation 802, the pod manager receives a data objectfor composing a target composed-node (e.g., a database server). Atoperation 804, the pod manager determines that the data object includesan indication for high-availability. At operation 806, the pod managercomposes a collection of composed-nodes (e.g., the composed-nodes511(1)-511(n)) based on the data object. At operation 808, the podmanager configures the collection of composed-nodes to function as thetarget composed-node.

In certain configurations, each composed-node of the collection ofcomposed-nodes has a same hardware configuration (e.g., the hardwareplatform 524) in accordance with the data object. In certainconfigurations, the target composed-node is requested to provide aservice. In certain configurations, each composed-node of the collectionof composed-nodes has a same software configuration (e.g., the OSes540(1)-540(n) and the service components 522(1)-522(n)) to provide theservice.

In certain configurations, the collection of composed-nodes includes atleast two composed-nodes. In certain configurations, the to configurethe collection of composed-nodes in operation 808, at operation 810, thepod manager provisions one or more high-availability operationcomponents (e.g., the high-availability operation components526(1)-526(n)) to at least one composed-node of the collection of thecomposed-nodes. The one or more high-availability operation componentsoperates the collection of composed-nodes to handle tasks directed tothe target composed-node. In certain configurations, to operate thecollection of the composed-nodes, the one or more high-availabilityoperation components allocate the tasks among the collection of thecomposed-nodes. In certain configurations, the collection ofcomposed-nodes is configured to operate in an active-active mode. Incertain configurations, the collection of composed-nodes is configuredto operate in an active-passive mode. In certain configurations, thecollection of composed-nodes is composed with hardware elements fromdifferent computing racks.

FIG. 9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 178′ employing a processing system 914.The apparatus 178′ may implement the pod manager 178. The processingsystem 914 may be implemented with a bus architecture, representedgenerally by the bus 924. The bus 924 may include any number ofinterconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific applicationof the processing system 914 and the overall design constraints. The bus924 links together various circuits including one or more processorsand/or hardware components, represented by a processor 904, a networkcontroller 910, and a computer-readable medium/memory 906. Inparticular, the computer-readable medium/memory 906 may include thememory 114 and the storage 117. The bus 924 may also link various othercircuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, andpower management circuits, which are well known in the art, andtherefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system 914 may be coupled to the network controller 910.The network controller 910 provides a means for communicating withvarious other apparatus over a network. The network controller 910receives a signal from the network, extracts information from thereceived signal, and provides the extracted information to theprocessing system 914, specifically a communication component 920 of theapparatus 178′. In addition, the network controller 910 receivesinformation from the processing system 914, specifically thecommunication component 920, and based on the received information,generates a signal to be sent to the network. The processing system 914includes a processor 904 coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory906. The processor 904 is responsible for general processing, includingthe execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium/memory906. The software, when executed by the processor 904, causes theprocessing system 914 to perform the various functions described suprafor any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium/memory 906may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor904 when executing software. The processing system further includes atleast one of the resource manager 401, the node-composing component 504,the template component 506, the high-availability configurationcomponent 507, and the PXE server 509. The components may be softwarecomponents running in the processor 904, resident/stored in the computerreadable medium/memory 906, one or more hardware components coupled tothe processor 904, or some combination thereof.

The apparatus 178′ may be configured to include means for performingoperations described supra referring to FIG. 8. The aforementioned meansmay be one or more of the aforementioned components of the apparatus 178and/or the processing system 914 of the apparatus 178′ configured toperform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in theprocesses/flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of exemplaryapproaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that thespecific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes/flowcharts may berearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” The word “exemplary” is used hereinto mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspectdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as“at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least oneof A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or anycombination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and mayinclude multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically,combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B,or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and“A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, Aand B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinationsmay contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. All structuraland functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspectsdescribed throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to thepublic regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited inthe claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,” “element,” “device,” andthe like may not be a substitute for the word “means.” As such, no claimelement is to be construed as a means plus function unless the elementis expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing composed-nodes of acomputing pod, comprising: receiving a data object for composing atarget composed-node; determining that the data object includes anindication for high-availability; composing a collection ofcomposed-nodes based on the data object; and configuring the collectionof composed-nodes to function as the target composed-node.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein each composed-node of the collection ofcomposed-nodes has a same hardware configuration in accordance with thedata object.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target composed-nodeis requested to provide a service, wherein each composed-node of thecollection of composed-nodes has a same software configuration toprovide the service.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection ofcomposed-nodes includes at least two composed-nodes, wherein theconfiguring includes: provisioning one or more high-availabilityoperation components to at least one composed-node of the collection ofthe composed-nodes, the one or more high-availability operationcomponents operating the collection of composed-nodes to handle tasksdirected to the target composed-node.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe operating the collection of the composed-nodes includes: allocatingthe tasks among the collection of the composed-nodes.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the collection of composed-nodes is configured tooperate in an active-active mode.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thecollection of composed-nodes is configured to operate in anactive-passive mode.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection ofcomposed-nodes is composed with hardware elements from differentcomputing racks.
 9. An apparatus for managing composed-nodes of acomputing pod, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupledto the memory and configured to: receive a data object for composing atarget composed-node; determine that the data object includes anindication for high-availability; compose a collection of composed-nodesbased on the data object; and configure the collection of composed-nodesto function as the target composed-node.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein each composed-node of the collection of composed-nodes has asame hardware configuration in accordance with the data object.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the target composed-node is requested toprovide a service, wherein each composed-node of the collection ofcomposed-nodes has a same software configuration to provide the service.12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collection of composed-nodesincludes at least two composed-nodes, wherein to configure thecollection of composed-nodes, the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: provision one or more high-availability operationcomponents to at least one composed-node of the collection of thecomposed-nodes, the one or more high-availability operation componentsoperating the collection of composed-nodes to handle tasks directed tothe target composed-node.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein tooperate the collection of the composed-nodes, the one or morehigh-availability operation components are configured to: allocate thetasks among the collection of the composed-nodes.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the collection of composed-nodes is configured tooperate in an active-active mode or an active-passive mode.
 15. Acomputer-readable medium storing computer executable code for managingcomposed-nodes of a computing pod, comprising code to: receive a dataobject for composing a target composed-node; determine that the dataobject includes an indication for high-availability; compose acollection of composed-nodes based on the data object; and configure thecollection of composed-nodes to function as the target composed-node.16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein each composed-nodeof the collection of composed-nodes has a same hardware configuration inaccordance with the data object.
 17. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the target composed-node is requested to provide aservice, wherein each composed-node of the collection of composed-nodeshas a same software configuration to provide the service.
 18. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the collection ofcomposed-nodes includes at least two composed-nodes, wherein toconfigure the collection of composed-nodes, the code is furtherconfigured to: provision one or more high-availability operationcomponents to at least one composed-node of the collection of thecomposed-nodes, the one or more high-availability operation componentsoperating the collection of composed-nodes to handle tasks directed tothe target composed-node.
 19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18,wherein to operate the collection of the composed-nodes, the one or morehigh-availability operation components are configured to: allocate thetasks among the collection of the composed-nodes.
 20. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the collection ofcomposed-nodes is configured to operate in an active-active mode or anactive-passive mode.